Funeral planning isn’t a positive experience in the best of circumstances—so when you add a complicated legal or personal situation, things have a way of becoming even more difficult and emotional.
One scenario that few people anticipate having to navigate is how to take care of the deceased when he or she passes away in a government institution like jail. However, this type of situation can and does happen, and there are options for families who wish to reclaim the deceased’s body for a personalized burial.
The Death Care Industry and Prison
In many cases, inmates who face a long time in prison—or who are otherwise in a situation in which death has a reasonable chance of occurring while they are incarcerated—make a will or other advance plans for death. Because they are already firmly in the legal system and have had contact with a lawyer, they may have been encouraged to draft a will that indicates where and how their body will be interred.
(more…) What Happens When a Loved One Dies in Prison?
July 9th, 2013Funeral planning isn’t a positive experience in the best of circumstances—so when you add a complicated legal or personal situation, things have a way of becoming even more difficult and emotional.
One scenario that few people anticipate having to navigate is how to take care of the deceased when he or she passes away in a government institution like jail. However, this type of situation can and does happen, and there are options for families who wish to reclaim the deceased’s body for a personalized burial.
The Death Care Industry and Prison
In many cases, inmates who face a long time in prison—or who are otherwise in a situation in which death has a reasonable chance of occurring while they are incarcerated—make a will or other advance plans for death. Because they are already firmly in the legal system and have had contact with a lawyer, they may have been encouraged to draft a will that indicates where and how their body will be interred.
(more…) Why It Makes Sense to Prepay for Cremation
July 4th, 2013
Planning a funeral in advance is often held up as the ideal way in which to approach your financial affairs. After all, when you pre-plan a funeral, you can make all the money decisions and funeral arrangements ahead of time, leaving your family free to deal with their loss without additional strain. From choosing your casket to buying a burial plot, you’ve got it all covered.
Preplanning a cremation is a bit different. Because a cremation doesn’t cost as much as a traditional funeral, and because the process tends to be simpler from start to finish, making advance arrangements for a cremation is not as common. Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea. Here are a few reasons why we think prepaying for a cremation makes good sense.
- You Want Cremation: Though widely accepted by most religions and families in the United States, cremation is by no means as mainstream as traditional burial. If you feel strongly about your desire to be cremated, it’s a good idea to do all the planning (and prepaying) yourself. This way, there will be no question about your wishes.
- You Have Specific Plans: The thing about cremation is that it can be just as varied as traditional funerals. Do you want your ashes to be kept in an urn in a columbarium, or scattered out to sea? Do you prefer direct cremation with a minimal fuss? Would you like your ashes to be buried in a coral reef or shot into space? If there’s anything out of the ordinary that you want at your funeral, now is a good time to make sure it’s attended to.
- You Have Questions: Although you can research cremation options online, there’s nothing quite like sitting down with a funeral director or funeral preplan professional to get all the answers. If you have any worries or concerns about the cremation process, about cremation costs, or about what it means for your family, talk with someone who can put you in touch with a reputable prepaid cremation provider.
- Your Finances are Unstable: Because cremation typically costs less than regular burial, many people think it’s not as big of a deal to put it off until after death occurs. However, the lower cost of cremation also means that it’s more affordable to prepay. If your finances are in a questionable state, or if you can handle smaller, monthly payments more easily than a lump sum, it might be a good idea to prepay for services now.
Calling a Funeral Home for Information
July 1st, 2013
One of the best ways to comparison shop for the best prices when planning a funeral is to call the home ahead of time to determine their rates. According to the Funeral Rule, funeral service providers are required to give consumers who contact them via phone all of the information contained in their General Price List, Casket Price List, and Outer Burial Container Price List. To the best of their ability, they are also required to answer questions that relate to payment options and additional costs.
The reason for all these legal regulations is to prevent funeral homes from taking advantage of customers at what is obviously a difficult time in their lives. While most funeral homes are more than happy to adhere to these laws and will do their best to help you make an informed decision, it is important that you know your rights as a consumer and what you can expect when you call a funeral home.
- Funeral service providers are prohibited from requiring you to give your name, address, or phone number in exchange for information. This doesn’t mean they can’t ask—it simply means you aren’t obligated to reply. Information regarding prices should be made available to you either way. (more…)
Natural Burial in the United States
June 27th, 2013
Funeral planning in the United States takes on a variety of different formats. Depending on religion, personal preference, and budget, you can end up with anything from a quiet, understated affair to a three-day funeral complete with a parade procession down the city center.
Natural burial is a movement in the United States that argues in favor of the belief that “less is more.” By burying the body directly in the soil (usually in a shroud or other highly biodegradable material), natural burial enthusiasts believe that they can help the body to recycle naturally and with less of an emphasis on material trappings.
How Natural Burial Works
In a natural burial, the land is altered as little as possible. This means no putting chemicals, hardwoods, or metal into the earth, as well as staying away from ornate headstones. Burial containers take the form of biodegradable coffins, shrouds, and other items that don’t take up natural resources, and the body’s contact with the soil is something to be celebrated, rather than avoided.
(more…) Planning a Funeral Using Local Vendors
June 25th, 2013
These days, funerals have become such grand, ornate affairs that it’s almost impossible to know where all your products come from. Caskets may be shipped from a manufacturer in another state or even overseas. Flowers might come from Internet funeral florists or be sent up from as far away as South America. Even memorial videos are often outsourced to third party providers who are spread around the globe.
While there is nothing wrong with the globalization of the funeral industry (in fact, this kind of practice can substantially reduce funeral costs), some people prefer a smaller, more intimate service that draws from local vendors. If the deceased was a person who believed in supporting the community and taking things back to a more grassroots level, it might be a good idea to include many local and small businesses in the funeral plan.
(more…) How to Find a Bereavement Support Group
June 17th, 2013
After the funeral planning is finished and the deceased’s remains have been taken care of, one of the top recommendations for the newly bereaved is to find a support group. Although everyone experiences grief differently, there is much to be said for talking through the pain and finding a group of like-minded individuals who can help you cope with your loss.
Why Bereavement Groups Matter
The loss of a loved one is something no one can prepare for. You never know how it will affect you until it happens, and the overwhelming surge of emotion that results is often more than the average person knows what to do with.
(more…) Bereavement Airfare and Hotels
June 14th, 2013
When you’re called out of town for the unexpected death of a loved one, it’s often necessary to put your life on hold while you attend to all the details of attending a funeral. And this type of thing doesn’t always come cheap. From taking time off work to all the travel plans, funerals can put quite a strain on those who wish to pay their respects and bid the deceased a fond farewell.
Getting Flight Discounts for Funeral Purposes
Almost all funerals occur within one week following the death of a loved one. If you live in another state, this means you have just a few days in which to put your affairs in order and book your travel arrangements.
(more…) How to Plan a Funeral with No Money
June 12th, 2013
In strained economic times, it’s not uncommon for families to find that they have no money to pay for an unexpected funeral. The death care industry is a notoriously expensive one, and if you don’t have disposable income or advance funeral plans, being hit with a several thousand dollar funeral bill might be more than you can handle.
Fortunately, programs do exist to help bury a loved one even if you don’t have enough money to cover funeral costs. In most cases, you will need to provide proof of income or extenuating circumstances in order to qualify.
Indigent Burial Options
(more…) DNA Artwork: A Unique Memorial Gift
June 7th, 2013
Giving a memorial gift is a great way to show a loved one how much you care about their loss and the difficulties they’ll undergo in the months ahead. In addition to things like funeral flowers, people often choose pretty mementos like engraved plaques, ornamental urns, memory journals, or statuettes.
While of all these make appropriate presents, there isn’t a whole lot of personalization involved. To find a truly one-of-a-kind memorial gift, you may want to get closer to the deceased. A lot closer. As close as his or her DNA.
DNA Artwork
DNA artwork bridges the scientific and artistic communities by creating large, visually appealing works of art that depend entirely on a person’s unique DNA. Offered from several different companies and in several different formats, the most popular version on the market right now are the DNA Portraits offered by a company known as dna11.
The process is fairly complex and takes a while (usually around 6 weeks). You send in a DNA sample through their kit, their lab runs it through a special gel to find the unique code, and it is turned into a digitally-enhanced canvas picture.
Of course, when you’re considering this for a deceased family member or friend, getting a DNA sample may not be that easy. Because the company prefers a cheek swab over something sloughed off (like hair in a brush or clipped fingernails), you may need to coordinate with the funeral home in order to get the sample taken.
(more…) The Cost of Cremation in Your Area
June 4th, 2013
One of the things we often talk about on this blog is how funeral costs vary depending on region. As is the case with almost any cost-of-living differences between large cities and smaller towns, or even state to state, burials and cremations are marked up differently. That’s because in addition to things like shipping costs, local business have to take into consideration things like state and city taxes, business licenses, operation costs, general overhead, and personnel.
How Expensive is Cremation?
Cremation costs are almost always less than traditional burial. Because you don’t need to purchase a plot of land (unless you’re burying the urn), and because an elaborate casket and body preservation techniques aren’t required, you can cut thousands of dollars off the total price tag of a funeral.
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